Signing up for Medicare sounds like one step, but it is really two separate things: getting enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), and then choosing the extra coverage that fills its gaps — a Part D drug plan, and either a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy or a Medicare Advantage plan. For many people here in Charlotte and across North Carolina, the first part happens automatically. The second part never does. Here is exactly how it works.

First: are you enrolled automatically, or do you sign up yourself?

You are enrolled automatically if...

If you are already receiving Social Security (or Railroad Retirement Board) retirement benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you do not have to do anything to get Original Medicare. Part A and Part B are set up for you, and your red-white-and-blue Medicare card arrives in the mail about 3 months before your coverage starts.

The same automatic enrollment applies if you have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for 24 months — Medicare then begins in month 25. And with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), there is no 24-month wait; Medicare starts automatically the same month your disability benefits begin.

You must sign up yourself if...

If you are not yet drawing Social Security as you approach 65 — for example, because you are delaying your benefits or still working — Medicare will not enroll you on its own. You have to apply. This catches a lot of people off guard, so it is worth marking on your calendar well before your birthday.

People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD — permanent kidney failure) also always sign up themselves; it is never automatic.

When you can apply: your enrollment windows

Timing matters, because signing up late can trigger lifelong penalties. The main windows are:

  • Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): a 7-month window around your 65th birthday — the 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. This is the ideal time to enroll for the first time.
  • General Enrollment Period: January 1 through March 31, for people who missed their IEP.
  • Special Enrollment Periods: if you kept working past 65 with qualifying employer coverage, or you have another life event, you may be able to sign up later without a penalty. The rules depend on the situation, so it is worth confirming yours.

The audience we most often help is people 4 to 6 months out from turning 65 — and that is genuinely the right time to start. Beginning early gives you room to compare options calmly instead of rushing a decision.

Why the timing is worth taking seriously

If you do not sign up for Part B when you are first eligible and you do not have qualifying coverage, the Part B late-enrollment penalty is 10% for each full 12 months you could have had it — and it lasts for life. Part D has its own late penalty of 1% of the national base beneficiary premium per month. These are avoidable with the right timing, which is a big part of why planning ahead pays off.

How to actually apply for Original Medicare

When you do need to enroll yourself, you apply through the Social Security Administration (not Medicare directly). You have three options:

  • Online at ssa.gov — usually the fastest route.
  • By phone at 1-800-772-1213.
  • In person at a local Social Security office. Charlotte has Social Security offices serving Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area; you can find the nearest one at ssa.gov.

Most people qualify for premium-free Part A because they (or a spouse) worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters — about 10 years. Part B has a standard monthly premium, which in 2026 is $202.90, with an annual deductible of $283. Higher-income households pay more through IRMAA, which in 2026 begins above a modified adjusted gross income of $109,000 for an individual or $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly.

The step most people forget: choosing your extra coverage

Getting Part A and Part B is only the foundation. Original Medicare does not include prescription drug coverage, and it has no annual out-of-pocket cap — after your Part B deductible you generally pay 20% of the approved amount, with no ceiling. That is why almost everyone adds one of these, and none of it is automatic:

  • A Part D prescription drug plan to cover the medications you take at home.
  • A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy paired with Original Medicare to cover much of that 20%. There is a one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period — 6 months from your Part B effective date — when you have guaranteed-issue rights and cannot be turned down or charged more for your health history. Missing that window matters, because outside of it insurers can generally use medical underwriting.
  • Or a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles Parts A, B, and usually Part D into one plan with a yearly out-of-pocket maximum and, often, extras like dental or vision. You cannot use Medigap with a Medicare Advantage plan.

These are individual decisions — Medicare covers one person only, so if you are married, each spouse enrolls separately and can hold different plans. Neither plan type is universally "best"; the right fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and how much cost predictability you want.

A quick word on Medicare Savings and Extra Help

If money is tight, you may qualify for help. Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, and QI) can help pay your premiums and, in some cases, cost-sharing, and enrolling in any of them also qualifies you for Extra Help with Part D drug costs. The income and resource limits are set at the state level and change each year, so check with the North Carolina Medicaid office, your local SHIIP counselor, Medicare.gov, or 1-800-MEDICARE for the current figures.

How The Jordan Insurance Agency helps

The Jordan Insurance Agency is a full-time, licensed and certified independent insurance agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving clients across the state. Applying for Original Medicare through Social Security is something you can do yourself — and we will walk you through exactly when and how. Where our experience really earns its keep is the second half: making sure you do not miss a penalty-triggering deadline, get your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window right, and choose the drug and supplemental coverage that actually fits your doctors, medications, and budget.

Because we are independent, we represent multiple carriers rather than one company, complete our annual AHIP and carrier certifications, carry E&O coverage, and review your plan every year at renewal — so your coverage keeps up as your needs and the plans change. And it costs you nothing extra: the carrier pays us, and your premium is the same whether you enroll on your own or with our help. If you are 4 to 6 months out from 65 and want a calm, plain-English walkthrough, we are glad to sit down with you.

Plan availability & disclaimer

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. The Jordan Insurance Agency is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.